DGCA asks SpiceJet to cut 50 pct of flights for 8 weeks, airline says won't affect ops

SpiceJet said this would have no impact on its flights in the lean travel season and no flights would be cancelled.

"In view of findings of various spot checks, inspections and the reply to the show cause notice submitted by SpiceJet, for continued sustenance of safe and reliable air transport service, the number of departures of SpiceJet are restricted to 50% of the number of departures approved... for a period of eight weeks," said the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in an order.

During these eight weeks, the DGCA would carry out "enhanced surveillance" on the airline.

This is seen as one of the most stringent actions any airline has faced in recent times.

Any increase in the number of departures beyond 50 percent "would be subject to the airline "demonstrating to the satisfaction of DGCA that it has sufficient technical support and financial resource to safely and efficiently undertake such enhanced capacity", the order said.

The aviation regulator said SpiceJet had "failed to establish a safe, efficient and reliable air transport service".

The airline is taking measures to resolve the problems, the order noted, but it needs to sustain its efforts for a safe and reliable air transport service.

In its response, SpiceJet said there would be no flight cancellations because of the order as flights have already been reworked in the lean travel season.

"We are in receipt of the DGCA order and will act as per directions of the regulator. Due to the current lean travel season, SpiceJet like other airlines had already rescheduled its flight operations. Hence, there will be absolutely no impact on our flight operations. We want to reassure our passengers and travel partners that our flights will operate as per schedule in the coming days and weeks. There will be no flight cancellation as a consequence of this order," said the airline's statement.